Transforming Poison Into Victory

Amit Khanna first encountered Nichiren Buddhism through his wife in 2011.

Watching her prayers create visible changes in their lives gradually sparked curiosity within him.

Soon, he too began chanting sincerely.

The warmth and encouragement he experienced at his first Buddhist meeting deeply moved him.

“I felt an immediate sense of belonging,” he recalls.

A few years later, Amit became part of the first batch of SBTG volunteers as a Soshokai member.

Working tirelessly behind the scenes during meetings and events, he supported responsibilities ranging from member transfers to organizational coordination.

Over time, he also began taking on mainline leadership responsibilities and eventually became a deputy men’s division region chief.

Alongside these efforts, Amit experienced many victories in his professional life.

But one battle had quietly accompanied him for years.

In 2000, he had been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis — a painful and progressive autoimmune condition affecting the spine.

Yet despite the illness, Amit remained physically active and disciplined.

His Buddhist practice gradually transformed not only his confidence, but also his relationship with suffering itself.

When Conflict Entered the Family

In March of the following year, Amit’s family was suddenly pulled into a painful legal conflict.

His brother and cousin filed court cases against their own parents regarding the reconstruction of the ancestral family home.

False documents were allegedly submitted in an attempt to claim rights over the property.

Very quickly, the situation escalated into multiple court battles within the family itself.

Then came another devastating shock.

Due to a change in medical insurance policies, Amit lost the health insurance coverage he had maintained for fifteen years.

Years of premium payments seemed to vanish overnight.

Friends and well-wishers warned the family to prepare for a long legal struggle.

At the same time, Amit’s insurance agent suggested that the only way to regain insurance coverage would be to hide his medical condition.

For a moment, Amit felt cornered.

But after studying the Gosho “The Essence of the ‘Medicine King’ Chapter,” he made a firm decision.

He would follow the path of honesty — even if it meant repeated rejection.

Insurance companies rejected him four times.

Eventually, exhaustion and discouragement almost pushed him toward giving up.

Transforming Poison Into Mission

Meanwhile, Amit tried repeatedly to reason with his brother and cousin.

But every conversation failed.

Frustrated and emotionally drained, he sought guidance from a senior leader.

The encouragement he received was simple yet profound:

Transform every poison in life into victory through faith and conviction in the Mystic Law.

Instead of becoming consumed by anger, Amit and his wife decided to deepen their Buddhist practice further.

They increased their participation in activities, encouraged members sincerely, opened their home for meetings, and engaged in Buddhist dialogues.

Throughout this period, guidance from The New Human Revolution and Value Creation became their compass.

Rather than allowing adversity to harden their hearts, they used it to deepen their humanity.

Interestingly, during home visits, many members began opening up about their own painful property disputes.

Almost every family seemed to be carrying similar wounds.

Gradually, Amit realized something important.

This struggle was not only about his family.

It was his mission to win and give hope to others trapped in similar suffering.

Together, he and his wife strengthened their determination and prayed single-mindedly for truth and justice to prevail.

Slowly, fear, disbelief, and anger began transforming into wisdom, courage, and confidence.

The external situation had not yet changed — but internally, they had already become undefeated.

Unexpected Protection

Then, another unexpected breakthrough arrived.

This year, Amit’s insurance agent encouraged him to apply once more for health coverage.

As part of a special request, an officer from the insurance company personally visited Amit’s home.

The officer was astonished to see Amit actively practicing yoga and living energetically despite his condition.

Fifteen days later, Amit received extraordinary news.

His insurance policy for ₹20 lakh had been approved.

The policy also included provisions allowing the coverage amount to grow annually up to ₹1 crore.

Additionally, under a newly introduced wellness policy, he became eligible for premium exemptions by maintaining regular exercise and fitness.

Honesty, which initially seemed like a disadvantage, eventually became the very cause for protection and trust.

Winning Together

At around the same time, Amit and fellow men’s division members set a challenging target toward the Men’s Division General Meeting:

900 hours of daimoku

90 home visits

The region exceeded both goals through united effort and determination.

Meanwhile, the family’s legal battle also began turning unexpectedly in their favor.

Guided by the spirit of faith, they found:

The right lawyer

The right support

The right circumstances

Gradually, the court recognized the malicious intentions behind the false claims.

Then came the decisive breakthrough.

On July 19th, the Chief Justice dismissed the case and granted permission for the house reconstruction project to proceed.

On the very same day, another lower court dismissed a second related case.

The family had achieved victory within just one year and three months.

Their lawyer later remarked that the judgment could help many other families facing similar circumstances.

The victory had expanded beyond one family’s struggle and become hope for others as well.

Living Without Defeat

Today, Amit continues to remain physically active through prayer, yoga, and disciplined living.

Remarkably, he does not depend on painkillers or medication despite his condition.

His son, who has practiced Buddhism since early childhood, is growing into a compassionate and thoughtful young person.

Looking back, Amit feels profound gratitude for every struggle.

Each challenge pushed him toward becoming stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.

What once appeared to be poison gradually became the source of his greatest victories.

A Line That Stayed With Me

“When the buddha nature manifests itself from within, it will receive protection from without.”

(“Three Kinds of Treasure,” WND-1, p. 848)

Reflection

Family conflicts and health struggles often leave people feeling trapped between fear, anger, and helplessness.

But Buddhism teaches that true victory begins when we refuse to compromise our integrity even under pressure.

Amit’s journey shows that human revolution is not about escaping hardship.

It is about transforming suffering into wisdom, courage, and compassion.

Sometimes, our greatest mission emerges precisely from the challenges we once wished to avoid.

Key Takeaways

Honesty creates lasting protection and trust.

Challenges can become a mission to encourage others.

Faith transforms fear and anger into courage and wisdom.

Human revolution begins by changing our inner state first.

Persistent prayer and action eventually create breakthrough victories.

Forward With Determination

Today, Amit remains deeply determined to:

Continue fighting courageously as a disciple of Sensei

Encourage members sincerely through his own example

Work tirelessly in his area of responsibility

Remain undefeated no matter what challenges arise

Above all, he is determined to become a source of hope and confidence for others facing adversity.

Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.